Slater went 2-for-2 with a two-run home run, a walk, a hit-by-pitch and two total runs scored in Sunday's 13-6 win over the Angels.
Mike Yastrzemski started in right field, but he exited the game after drawing a walk in his lone plate appearance. Slater finished it off in right field, and despite facing right-handed pitchers in all but one of his four plate appearances, the outfielder put together an excellent game. He's hitting .409 (9-for-22) with three walks and five RBI over seven games in June in a short-side platoon role. Slater is up to a .230/.373/.279 slash line with a homer, two steals, six RBI and 10 runs scored through 75 plate appearances this season.
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Giants' Austin Slater: Three hits, steal in win
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Slater went 3-for-5 with two RBI, one stolen base and one run scored in Wednesday's 5-3 win over the Astros.
Slater has gone 6-for-13 over four games since he returned from a concussion, though all of his hits in that span have been singles. The outfielder is up to a .212/.349/.212 slash line with four RBI, two steals and seven runs scored over 63 plate appearances this season. Slater is strictly a short-side platoon player, which currently has him functioning as a fourth outfielder for the Giants offering coverage at all three outfield positions.
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Giants' Austin Slater: Starting in return from IL
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The Giants reinstated Slater (concussion) from the 7-day injured list Wednesday. He'll start in center field and bat leadoff in the Giants' series finale versus the Diamondbacks.
Outfielder Luis Matos was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento to make room on the active roster for Slater, who will slot back into the lineup Wednesday while Arizona brings lefty Jordan Montgomery to the hill. Slater should continue to see the overwhelming majority of his starts against southpaws, serving as a short-side platoon mate for either Mike Yastrzemski or Michael Conforto. Slater had been on the IL since May 11 while recovering from a concussion but was able to knock off some rust during a five-game rehab assignment with Sacramento.
Slater (concussion) will begin a rehab assignment Tuesday with Triple-A Sacramento if he's given clearance Monday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Slater has missed more than two weeks of action with concussion symptoms, but it sounds like he's doing better and is on the precipice of games. Because he hasn't missed much time, Slater's rehab assignment should be brief, provided there are no complications.
Slater (concussion) was placed on the 7-day injured list Saturday.
Slater exited Friday's game with concussion-like symptoms after crashing into the center field wall. Brett Wisely was recalled from Triple-A in a corresponding move and Tyler Fitzgerald is picking up the start in center field against lefty Nick Lodolo.
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Giants' Austin Slater: Exits with concussion-like symptoms
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The Giants took Slater out of Friday's game versus Cincinnati due to concussion-like symptoms, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.
It initially seemed like Slater's arm took the majority of the damage after he crashed into the wall in center field during the first inning, but it appears the incident may have instead given the 31-year-old a concussion. No official diagnosis has been given yet, but Slater may be in line for a trip to the 7-day IL.
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Giants' Austin Slater: Exits with apparent injury
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Slater was removed from Friday's game against the Reds with an apparent arm injury, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Slater crashed hard into the outfield wall during the first inning and was later pinch hit for by Michael Conforto. The Giants' training staff will take a closer look at Slater in the clubhouse and should offer an update on his status in the near future.
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Giants' Austin Slater: Notches first steal
Rotowire
Slater went 1-for-2 with a walk and a stolen base in Wednesday's 8-2 loss to the Mets.
Slater has struggled at the plate this year, but he remains in a short-side platoon role in right field. The steal was his first of the campaign, and he's batting just .115 with one RBI, three runs scored and no extra-base hits over 32 plate appearances. Slater will often play in right field when Mike Yastrzemski is on the bench, but the former's hitting hasn't been strong enough to make much of a fantasy impact.
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Giants' Austin Slater: Picks up RBI in win
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Slater went 1-for-3 with an RBI single in Wednesday's 7-1 win over the Nationals.
The 31-year-old hit in the leadoff spot Wednesday afternoon and picked up his first RBI of the year. Manager Bob Melvin appeared to mix up the lineup Wednesday, slotting Slater and Tyler Fitzgerald into the outfield for rare starts. Mike Yastrzemski has been earning the majority of the playing time in right field all season, but with three hits through his first 23 at-bats to start the year, it would not be surprising for Slater to get more looks in right field.
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Giants' Austin Slater: Starts in right field in exhibition
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Slater (elbow) will start in right field and bat second Monday in the Giants' exhibition versus the Athletics.
After he was limited in the early stages of spring training while completing his recovery from the right elbow surgery he underwent Oct. 11, Slater made his spring debut Feb. 24, but he didn't return to the lineup until March 9 after experiencing a minor setback in his recovery. Manager Bob Melvin noted Friday that Slater recently experienced more soreness in his surgically repaired elbow, but the 31-year-old outfielder has since seemingly quelled some of the concern about his availability for Opening Day. He returned to action for Saturday's game against the Diamondbacks and went 0-for-3 while serving as a backup designated hitter, then made a start at DH in a minor-league game Sunday. Slater's inclusion in the lineup in the outfield Monday implies that the elbow issue is no longer hindering him on defense or at the plate, so if he can come out of the game without any setbacks, he should be in good position to make the Opening Day roster. The right-handed-hitting Slater is likely to fill the short side of a platoon in the corner outfield with either Michael Conforto or Mike Yastrzemski during the upcoming season.
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Giants' Austin Slater: Suffers setback with elbow
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Giants manager Bob Melvin said Friday that Slater had "a little setback" with his right elbow and might not make the Opening Day roster, Brian Murphy of KNBR 680 reports.
Slater had offseason surgery to remove a bone spur from his elbow. While he didn't have any restrictions during spring training, he evidently felt something in the elbow recently that has the Giants hitting the pause button. With Slater looking iffy for the Opening Day roster, it could clear a spot for Luis Matos.
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Giants' Austin Slater: Cleared for Cactus League play
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Slater (elbow) said Thursday that he has the "all clear" to play in spring training games, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Slater has been throwing from 150 feet, and he participated in cutoff and relay drills Thursday for the first time since undergoing surgery on his right elbow in October. It's unclear whether the Giants will use Slater in the field right away as Cactus League games begin or if they will ease him in as a DH, but he should be ready to handle fielding duties by Opening Day.
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Giants' Austin Slater: Nearing end of rehab
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Slater (elbow) reported to spring training with no restrictions as a hitter, though he'll still need to finish his throwing program before being cleared to play in Cactus League games, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Slater is working his way back from offseason surgery to remove a bone spur in his right elbow and is behind the Giants' other outfielders, though his availability for Opening Day doesn't look to be in jeopardy at this stage. Until he's cleared for full outfield work, Slater could be deployed as a designated hitter in Cactus League games so as to get in enough competitive at-bats to prepare himself for the start of the regular season. Slater is projected to serve a short-side platoon outfielder as he heads into his eighth season with the Giants.
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Giants' Austin Slater: Re-signs with Giants
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Slater (elbow) signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Giants on Friday, Craig Mish of the Miami Herald reports.
Hamstring problems sent Slater to the injured list twice early in the 2023 season, but he managed to bat .270 with a .748 OPS and 20 RBI across 207 plate appearances when healthy. Slater will turn 31 in December and is expected to be ready for the start of spring training after undergoing right elbow surgery in October.
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Giants' Austin Slater: Undergoes elbow surgery
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Slater underwent scheduled surgery Wednesday on his right elbow, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Dr. Keith Meister performed an arthroscopic procedure to remove a bone spur from the back of Slater's elbow, and the 30-year-old outfielder also had an ulnar nerve transposition to address some nagging nerve discomfort in the same joint. He'll need around four months of rest and rehab but is expected to be ready for the beginning of spring training in 2024.
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Giants' Austin Slater: Undergoing elbow surgery
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Slater is scheduled to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow Oct. 11, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.
Slater has been bothered by right elbow discomfort for the last couple of seasons and will finally head in for a surgical repair. The 30-year-old outfielder is under the Giants' control through 2024 via salary arbitration and is expected to be ready for the beginning of spring training next February.
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Giants' Austin Slater: Delivers three hits in win
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Slater went 3-for-3 with a double and a hit-by-pitch in Monday's 2-1 win over the Padres.
Slater did a great job atop the lineup versus tough lefty Blake Snell, but the Giants' Nos. 2-4 hitters went just 1-for-11 with a walk in the contest. While he's still in a short-side platoon role, Slater is hitting .294 (10-for-34) in September. The outfielder boasts a .271/.347/.398 slash line with five home runs, 20 RBI, 23 runs scored and two stolen bases over 202 plate appearances this year.
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Giants' Austin Slater: Expected to be available Sunday
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Slater (head) is expected to be available to play in Sunday's game versus the Rockies, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Slater was scratched from Friday's lineup and didn't play Saturday due to dizziness, but it sounds like he's going to be fine. The Rockies are starting right-hander Peter Lambert on Sunday, so Slater figures to begin the game on the bench.
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Giants' Austin Slater: Scratched due to dizziness
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Slater was scratched from the lineup Friday versus the Rockies due to dizziness, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.
He had been set to cover center field and bat leadoff, but Luis Matos will take over both duties. Slater should be considered day-to-day.
